Erdene Resource Development Corp has intersected 116 metres of 2.0 grams/tonne (g/t) gold from surface during the current drilling program at its high-grade Bayan Khundii Gold Project in southwest Mongolia. This intersection at the Striker Zone included 71 metres @ 3.1 g/t and within this was 24 metres @ 7.5 g/t.

The results are from the first seven holes of the originally planned 5000 metre drill program that has now been expanded to 9000 metres. This is expected to be completed by the end of the year and as well as Bayan Khundii it will encompass the neighbouring Altan Nar and Altan Arrow gold projects.

As well as the 116 metre intersection, additional drilling in the Striker Zone returned 112 metres @ 1.2 g/t from surface. There were also multiple, very high-grade gold intersections in this zone containing several gold-bearing quartz veins returning 1 metre samples exceeding 40 g/t.

Erdene also reports that another hole southwest of the Striker Zone intersected 16.7 metres @ 4.6 g/t from surface, including 7 metres @ 10.2 g/t. This hole also returned an additional 22 metres @ 2.2 g/t, including 7 metres @ 6.4 g/t, at 100 metres depth, representing a down-dip extension of the Striker Zone.

Additional drill results for step-out holes testing Bayan Khundii targets under younger cover are anticipated in late October.

“Bayan Khundii continues to deliver exceptional, near-surface gold grades over wide intervals and these results increase our confidence in the continuity of these gold zones and the broad extent of the lower-grade mineralisation,” said Erdene’s president and CEO Peter Akerley. “As the drill program advances we will be testing multiple targets outside of the known mineralised area, predominantly under younger cover rocks, to better establish the size potential of the Bayan Khundii gold system.”

The 2016 Bayan Khundii drill program is focused on testing the boundaries at depth and along strike, and building confidence in the continuity of the high-grade gold zones, within the main mineralised trend.

The drill program will be paused for two weeks this month for the winterising of the company’s drill camp, assessment of results and completion of the regional exploration program under way as part of Erdene’s alliance with Teck Resources. Drilling is expected to recommence on October 21 and continue through mid-December.